Michael Sukkar MP

Labor cuts lead to bed closures at Eastern Health

Michael Sukkar, Liberal Candidate for Deakin, has repeated his call for the Gillard Labor
Government to reverse devastating cuts to health funding in the wake of bed closures at
Eastern Health.

“Labor has ripped more than $8 million in funding from Eastern Health this financial year,
affecting hospitals such as Maroondah and Box Hill,” Mr Sukkar said.

“These heartless cuts are already hurting the Deakin community, with Eastern Health forced
to close beds and reduce services in surgical and palliative care as well as mental health
services.”

Following the Gillard Labor Government’s funding withdrawal, Eastern Health has announced the closure of 26 beds, including surgical and palliative care beds, a reduction in non-urgent joint replacement operations, and the suspension of weight-loss operations. Funding cuts have also resulted in the removal of the late shift of the Central East Crisis Assessment Treatment Team as well as the closure of a palliative care outpatient clinic and mental health program.

Eastern Health has been forced to:

• Cancel 140 non-urgent hip and knee replacement surgeries;
• Permanently close its primary mental health program at Blackburn;
• Permanently close the Lilydale palliative care outpatients’ clinic and music therapy

program;

• Suspend bariatric elective surgery until June; and
• Suspend the Kool Kids Positive Parents mental health program.

“At a time when mental health services are increasingly being understood as a crucial part of integrated health services, it is devastating for Deakin residents to hear that Eastern Health has had to cancel services such as the primary mental health program in Blackburn,”

Mr Sukkar said.

“Labor MP Mike Symon has an unfortunate history of not understanding the crucial need for improved mental health services in Deakin. We all remember Mike Symon’s failure to successfully advocate for the youth mental health services offered by Headspace, even though Ringwood was initially chosen as the preferred location. Now we see Mr Symon cutting funds needed for vital mental health services in Blackburn. When will Mike Symon start fighting for the people of Deakin?”

Mr Sukkar recently launched a community petition calling on the Gillard Labor Government to reverse cuts to health funding. The Federal Health Cuts petition can be signed on Saturday, February 2 at the East Ringwood Community Market, Railway Road, Ringwood East. It is also available online at www.facebook.com/MichaelSukkarLiberalForDeakin.